My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 618

Mr. Michel’s cheeks were tinged pink, excitement making the fine lines at the corners of his eyes tremble.

“This, this is just… I can hardly believe it!”

Andrew Lane’s voice was calm, almost indifferent. “Do you want it?”

Mr. Michel clutched the documents, swallowing hard. “Of course I do. But if I go through with this, I’m not sure how I’ll explain myself to Kevin Lane.”

Andrew’s tone grew lower, more certain. “I’ll handle my grandfather. You just do what needs to be done. If you pull it off, it’s yours. If you don’t, or if you refuse, then you’ve got nothing to do with it.”

Mr. Michel’s face twisted in conflict, his throat working as he swallowed again and again, his gaze darting back and forth.

After a long moment, as if steeling himself, he looked up. “Mr. Lane, can you guarantee Kevin Lane won’t come after me for this?”

Andrew nodded. “I guarantee it. Just do what you need to do. I want results.”

Mr. Michel gritted his teeth. “Mr. Lane, can I ask… why are you doing this?”

Andrew lowered his eyes, silent for a moment.

“Mr. Lane?” Mr. Michel prompted.

“I suppose… I just can’t bring myself to look the other way,” Andrew said quietly.

Mr. Michel clearly misunderstood, letting out a small laugh. “So you’ve got a taste for justice, Mr. Lane? Honestly, companies like that are a blight on society. It’s right that someone finally investigates them. I understand. I’ll make sure you get an answer you’re satisfied with.”

Andrew realized Mr. Michel had missed the point, but didn’t bother to correct him. He simply nodded.

“I’ll be waiting.”

—

The next morning, Emily Blair woke to the insistent ring of her phone. Elizabeth Wilson’s name flashed across the screen.

“Emily, get online. Now.”

Still groggy, Emily tapped into the social video app run by Vertex International.

The first recommended clip was already about Ryan Cox—the latest update, straight from a field reporter.

A crowd of journalists and bystanders was jostling for space outside the gates of a suburban villa. Emily recognized it instantly as Ryan Cox’s house.

A reporter, microphone in hand, addressed the camera: “Good morning, viewers. We’re live at the scene. Sources confirm that the Bureau of Investigation is now fully aware of the allegations against Ryan Cox. After a thorough probe, charges of embezzlement and industrial espionage may in fact be true. At present, the Bureau has taken Ryan Cox in for questioning.”

Halfway through the video, Emily narrowed her eyes.

She saw Ryan Cox, still in pajamas, being escorted by sharply dressed agents to an unmarked car.

In that instant, the crowd surged forward, shouting and jostling as the officers moved to shield their suspect.

“Serves him right! About time!” someone yelled.

“Ryan Cox is a disgrace! Investigate him to the end!” another voice added.

Emily glanced down at the trending tags beneath the video: “Bureau Responds to Ryan Cox Scandal” was at the top.

Elizabeth’s voice came through again, awed. “Your plan really worked. What’s it been—three, four days? The Bureau moved fast.”

But Emily fell silent.

After a moment, she replied, “They’re moving awfully quickly, aren’t they?”

Elizabeth laughed. “What’s the problem? Isn’t fast good?”

Emily shook her head, even though Elizabeth couldn’t see her. “No, it’s just… strange.”

By all rights, she was the first to report Ryan Cox. But the Bureau hadn’t reached out for a statement, hadn’t even contacted her—just swooped in and took him away. It didn’t make sense.

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